Latest news with #DepartmentofTribalWelfare
Indian Express
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Thespian to power play: Under BJP fire for targeting Goa CM, who is minister Gaude?
Goa Art and Culture Minister Govind Gaude's bid to level corruption allegations at the Department of Tribal Welfare under Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has set off a firestorm in the state, prompting sharp reactions from both the ruling BJP and the Opposition parties. While CM Sawant has warned of action against Gaude for his 'irresponsible' statements, triggering buzz that he may be dropped from the Cabinet soon, the minister seems to be engaged in a damage-control exercise, claiming that he was 'misquoted' in the media. Ahead of a Cabinet meeting Wednesday, Gaude claimed, 'I have never said anything negative about the Chief Minister. He (Sawant) is a good friend of mine. I won't comment on what the Chief Minister said about me. We have already spoken about the issue.' In a post on X, Gaude said he met Sawant and clarified about the context of his controversial speech on 'Prerna Divas' last Sunday. 'While reiterating the demands of UTAA (United Tribal Associations' Alliance), my statements have been reported inappropriately. Goa CM has been sensitive to the demands of the ST (Scheduled Tribe) community and has been a friend of UTAA in its struggles,' he stated. Prerna Divas is observed in the state to commemorate the death of two tribal youths in a mob violence in 2011 when they were undertaking a campaign for the ST rights. The row erupted when Gaude, who also holds Sports and Rural Development portfolios, made a jibe at alleged corruption in the Tribal Welfare ministry at a Prerna Divas event organised by the Directorate of Tribal Welfare along with the UTAA. In his speech, Gaude said, 'A large amount of taxpayers' money is allotted to the Tribal Welfare department. If it is unable to organise this programme efficiently, then it shows a lack of control over the administration. In my opinion, the administration has weakened today. The files of contractors are handled under the Shram Shakti Bhavan (a government block) building on the sly. Something is taken from them, and then they are asked to submit their files.' A prominent tribal leader, Gaude went on to say that 'The construction of the Tribal Bhavan is a long-pending demand of the tribal community. They gave their land for the project… The foundation stone was laid when I was the Tribal Welfare Minister. The project has been stalled. Why is there no progress in the project?' Maintaining that the Tribal Bhavan project, a key demand of the UTAA, had been stalled for the past three years, Gaude called for Sawant's immediate intervention on the issue, saying, 'The Chief Minister should guide the department properly and get the issues, if any, resolved.' The Opposition parties were quick to latch on to Gaude's remarks, demanding a probe into his allegations against the CM Sawant-led Tribal Affairs ministry. The Congress's Yuri Alemao, Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the state Assembly, said that Gaude's allegations have 'exposed the BJP government's corruption'. Alemao said, 'The Anti-Corruption Branch should probe these claims and take action against those guilty of bribery. It is time for the BJP to prioritise transparency and root out corruption. Hope the BJP does not say it is their internal matter. Party with a difference is exposed by differences.' Stung by the row, the BJP leadership signalled that it would take disciplinary action against Gaude for his 'repeated misdemeanours'. Sawant said, 'Responsible ministers should speak responsibly and avoid making irresponsible statements. I have taken cognisance (of Gaude's statements) and appropriate action shall be taken.' State BJP president Damu Naik told The Indian Express, 'BJP is a disciplined party. The discipline has to be maintained. No one is above the party. I have not met him (Gaude) since I was not in the state. I will meet him and discuss. Some action will definitely be taken.' Senior BJP tribal leader, Ramesh Tawadkar, who is also the Assembly Speaker, said if Gaude had any concerns, he should have discussed it with the CM. Gaude's allegations came days after another BJP leader and ex-minister Pandurang Madkaikar alleged that all ministers in the BJP government were 'busy counting money'. Madkaikar later withdrew his allegations. A theatre actor-turned-politician, Gaude, 53, had in 2023 essayed the role of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj in a play based on the life of the Maratha ruler. Gaude, who represents the Priol constituency, has often courted controversies over the last several years, managing to weather the ensuing storms. In February 2024, Tawadkar accused Gaude for his alleged involvement in misappropriation of government funds to the tune of Rs 26 lakh meant for organising cultural programmes in South Goa's Canacona constituency. In 2022, Gaude sparked a row when he defended the Sawant government's decision to allocate renovation work of Kala Academy in Panaji without a tendering process, saying that even the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan had not 'invited quotations for building the Taj Mahal, which for 390 years has remained as it was'. In the previous BJP government, Gaude had been a minister while remaining an Independent MLA supporting the ruling party. He had then also held the Tribal Welfare portfolio along with the Art and Culture ministry. He retained his ministerial berth even after Sawant succeeded Manohar Parrikar as the CM in 2019 following the latter's demise. Ahead of the 2022 Assembly polls, Gaude joined the BJP and won the election on its ticket from his Priol seat by defeating the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP)'s president Deepak Dhavalikar. In the current row surrounding Gaude, the UTAA has backed him, saying his remarks were 'misconstrued'. UTAA president Prakash Velip said, 'The minister's intentions were not to cast aspersions on the Chief Minister. He aimed to highlight the delays caused by the Tribal Welfare ministry officials in addressing proposals related to the tribal community, including the much-anticipated Tribal Bhavan.'
The Hindu
28-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Four-day training programme on Forest Rights Act begins in Coimbatore
A four-day training programme for master trainers on the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006, began on Wednesday at the Tamil Nadu Forest Academy in Coimbatore. Organised by the Department of Tribal Welfare, the initiative aims to strengthen implementation of the FRA across Tamil Nadu. The sessions focus on the roles and responsibilities of the Gram Sabha, Sub-Divisional Level Committee (SDLC), and District Level Committee (DLC), along with procedures for filing claims and building institutional capacity at the grassroots level. Over 150 registered participants from 28 districts, all with prior experience in related areas, are taking part in the training. Their primary responsibility will be to train Gram Sabha members on various aspects of the FRA. Addressing the gathering, Coimbatore District Collector Pavankumar G. Giriyappanavar highlighted the importance of understanding the Act to help communities assert their rights. He stressed the need to raise awareness at the local level to ensure eligible tribal families can benefit from the scheme. The Collector said that the training would help identify eligible families in around 175 tribal settlements in Coimbatore district and support effective delivery of pattas under the Forest Rights Act. As part of the programme, a simplified reference manual on the FRA was launched to help participants to learn.
Indian Express
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Something is taken (from contractors)…': In Goa, BJP minister takes corruption swipe at CM's department
A day after Goa's Art and Culture Minister Govind Gaude's veiled remarks about alleged corruption in the Department of Tribal Welfare, a portfolio held by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, the latter on Monday said 'appropriate' action would be taken against Gaude. 'Responsible ministers should speak responsibly and avoid making irresponsible statements. I have taken cognizance (of his statements) and appropriate action shall be taken,' Sawant said after a media briefing on Monday evening. During a 'Prerna Din' event organised by the Directorate of Tribal Welfare in association with the United Tribal Association Alliance in Goa on Sunday, Gaude raised questions about the department's transparency and efficiency. 'A large amount of taxpayers' money is allotted to the tribal welfare department. If it is unable to organise this programme efficiently, then it shows a lack of control over the administration. In my opinion, the administration has weakened today. The files of contractors are handled under the Shram Shakti Bhavan (a government block) building on the sly. Something is taken from them, and then they are asked to submit their files,' said Gaude in his speech. 'Construction of a tribal bhavan is a long-pending demand of the tribal community. They gave their land for the project… The foundation stone was laid when I was the Tribal Welfare Minister. The project has been stalled. Why is there no progress in the project?' Gaude asked. On Monday, opposition parties attacked the BJP government and demanded an inquiry into the allegations. Congress's Yuri Alemao, Leader of Opposition in the state assembly, said that Gaude's allegations have exposed the state government's corruption. 'The Anti-Corruption Branch should probe these claims and take action against those guilty of bribery. It is time for the BJP to prioritise transparency and root out corruption,' he said. Goa Forward Party leader Vijai Sardesai said, 'The Goa government's corruption has become so institutionalised that even the government itself is lashing out. Gaude's statement that contractors need to pay bribes to get files cleared is not much of a revelation, but a sign of utter frustration with his own government.' In March, BJP leader and former Goa transport minister Pandurang Madkaikar had alleged the ministers in the ruling BJP government were 'busy in counting money'. He also claimed that he paid a bribe of Rs 15-20 lakh to the personal assistant of a minister to process his file. Madkaikar later withdrew the allegations.
